Local MP Slams 'Gross Overdevelopment' Of Chiswick Curve

Ruth Cadbury says it will be an "unacceptable living environment"

Likely view of Chiswick Curve from Clarence Road Chiswick

Local MP Ruth Cadbury has slammed the proposal for a 32-storey Chiswick Curve and criticised the developer Kim Gottlieb for his "ever more intense development proposals for this site".

The MP For Brentford & Isleworth, who was a member of Hounslow's Planning Committe for over thirty years, including two terms as Chair, said that in all her time she had never seen such an example of "gross overdevelopment as the "Curve" now proposed for the half-acre site at Chiswick Roundabout".

She said: ""I am amazed that Kim Gottlieb persists in ever more intense development proposals for this site, this is at least his third proposal. I suggested to him years ago that if he insisted on developing that tiny site, he should consider a development that involves some of B&Q's land (the car park is seldom full), move the slip-road closer to the A4, and release the island into a reasonably sized site. But then that would perhaps be too sensible."

"In my view the development will provide an unacceptable living environment for anyone living there both because of the access arrangements, and its proximity to such busy roads. The extent of pedestrians crossing to and from the building will almost certainly disrupt traffic on this very busy junction, and I assume there will have to be long-term road closures during the construction phases, with the inevitable associated congestion that will ripple across outer West London.

Despite the official closing date of February 1st for comments you can still read about the application and make comments

Concerned residents in Chiswick along with their local councillors are currently engaged in a campaign against the development.

The tower at Chiswick roundabout will contain up to 320 new apartments with 1-3 bedrooms and an expected 800 new residents. There will also be 50,000 square feet of commercial space including offices and restaurants which is anticipated will accommodate 400 staff. The second one will be 25 storeys high and linked to other tower at the lower levels.

The Chiswick Curve from Strand on the Green

A formal planning application was submitted by Starbones Limited to Hounslow Council on 21 December 2015. If planning permission is granted, the resulting skyscraper would be the tallest building in West London, higher than Trellick Tower in Paddington - which has recently been turned down.

Planning applications are evaluated against the Council's planning policies as set out in the Local Development Plan.

The Curve from Kew Bridge

The Kew Society has also objected to the development on the grounds of the LED advertising which is part of the proposal. In its statement the Society states that: "The applicant has produced no evidence as part of the application that the development will not adversely impact on the setting of heritage assets such as the UNESCO World Heritage Royal Botanic Gardens in Kew, the listed Kew Bridge and Kew Steam Museum, the Kew Green Conservation Area and the River Thames.

"The increased level of lighting, combined with its changing images and colours will impact adversely on the area character and the living conditions of residents. Illuminated and changing electronic Roadside advertising such as these proposals can create public safety issues and in the interests of road safety, restrictions should be enforced such as controls on the number of image changes per minute (e.g. one), the number of words displayed in any one image (e.g. seven) and any form of subliminal advertising at any time.

Richmond Council has also objected to the scheme.

The Curve outside Gunnersbury station on Chiswick High Road

Another view from Strand on the Green

From Chiswick streets near Wellesley Road

A view from the A4

Looking north from Strand on the Green

Skyscraper viewed from Chiswick Roundabout

The developers claim that an outward facing design approach and 'public realm strategy' will overcome the severance effect of the M4 flyover. They are also promising an improved pedestrian and cyclist environment beneath the M4 flyover.

Skyscraper viewed from the south of Chiswick Roundabout

February 12, 2016